The City of Detroit is continuing its aggressive neighborhood stabilization plan with help from the private sector. The city announced its plans to raise $130M, with a focus on commercial corridors and its parks system. These are two areas which are desperately in need of funding. Even in some of Detroit's best neighborhoods the commercial corridors are lacking the national retailers found in nearby suburbs. A good example of this can be found on the Northwest side of the city, along West Seven Mile Rd between Southfield Freeway and Woodward Avenue. This area is generally densely populated compared to other parts of the city and includes some of the best neighborhoods in Detroit: Bagley, University District, Sherwood Forest. However driving along Seven Mile there are many vacant storefronts and dilapidated buildings. The aim is to change this by investing in these commercial corridors and luring national brands to the city. 

There has been significant progress on this front in recent years, as regional supermarket giant Meijer has opened two locations in the city. We have also witnessed other brands such as Whole Foods move into the city limits. The latest announcement is part of the Strategic Neighborhood Fund which was launched in 2016 according to the Detroit Free Press. The 7 neighborhoods targeted in this latest investment will be: Grand River Northwest, Warrendale/Cody-Rouge, Russell Woods/Nardin Park, Campau/Banglatown, Gratiot/7-Mile, East Warren/Cadieux, and Jefferson Chalmers. Some of Detroit's largest charities will contribute to the $130M goal including the Kresge foundation which has committed another $15M. The SNF had previously announced a $42M investment targeted southwest Detroit as well as the Livernois-McNichols area on the northwest side. This is another major step in Detroit's resurgence, and a much needed boost for the city's neighborhoods.